Harness attachment



, July 7, 1925. 1,545,344

J. A. MELHQUSE HARNESS ATTACHMENT Filed April 18, 1923 UNITED STATESJOHN A. MELHOUSE, OF KIEF, NORTH DAKOTA.

HARNESS ATTACHMENT.

Application filed April 18, 1923. Serial No. 632,974.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. MELHoUsn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kief, in the county of McHenry and State of North Dakota,have invented new and useful Improvements in Harness Attachments, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide tension means for preventingthe reins of a double harness from getting under the tongue of avehicle.

A further object is to effect this result by the use of a tension deviceapplied to each cross line or rein, near the point where it is connectedwith the bit.

A further object is to provide a tension device which shall consist 01"a coiled spring and means thereon for engaging one of the reins, and atubular casing which receives the spring when contracted, the casinghaving means on one end thereof for connection with another element ofthe harness.

i i ith the foregoing and other objects and advantages in view, theinvention consists in the novel construction and arrangement oielements, described and claimed, it being understood that modificationsmay be made within the scope of the claim without departing from thespirit of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device applied tothe reins of a double harness; Figure 2 is an elevation of the device,with portions of the casing appearing in longitudinal section; Figure 3is a view transversely through the casing 20 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is adetail view of a device for connecting a rein with the tension device.

The cross reins are designated 10 and 11, and these reins or lines passthrough the usual rings 12 and 13, and have their ends connected withthe rings 14 and 15 of the bits of the respective set of harness Thetension devices, which may also be re- ,r' ierred to as Spreaders, 1nthe sense that they keep the reins spread or taut, include coiledsprings 17, each having connected therewith a loop 18 for receiving therein.

It will be observed from the drawing that this device 18 comprises apiece of wire or the like including reversely formed loop portions eachhaving an open end'as shown, and one of said loops having barbs forengagement with a rein, and the other including a U member 18 forengagement by ring 17 of spring 17.

A tubular casing 20 is provided with a closed end 21 in which one end ofthe spring is secured, the opposite end of the casing being open. Theclosed end has a ring or equivalent device 22 formed thereon, and

this device is secured to an adjacent element of the harness, as forinstance, the element 23, or the hame. The spring maintains the requiredtension, and prevents the rein from getting under the tongue, and thecasing acts as a guard member, and prevents interference with theoperation of the springs, as far as possible, and annoyance which wouldbe caused by the latter engaging portions of the harness, or contactingwith the neck of the horse.

hat is claimed is c In a device of the character described, a coiledspring, a tubular casing therefor having an open end and a closed end,means to secure one end of the spring to the closed end of the casing, amember having reversely t'ormed loop portions, open at their ends, aspring engaging device on one loop portion, rein engaging devices on theother loop portion, and means for attaching said casing to a harnesspart.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

JOHN A. MELHOUSE,

